D.C. United Scouting Report

D.C. United (4-2-3, 15 pts.) outlasted the Houston Dynamo, 3-2, at RFK Stadium on Saturday night behind a two-goal brace by Maicon Santos. The Brazilian striker headed in the game-winner in the 70th minute from a left-sided cross by defender Daniel Woolard to keep United in second-place in the East. Woolard had also assisted on Dwayne De Rosario’s first goal of the season that gave the home side a 2-1 edge in the 54th. Santos opened the scoring in the 11th minute off assists by Chris Pontius and Brandon McDonald, with his performance giving him a team-leading six strikes on the year. Pontius is behind him with four scores, while De Rosario has provided a team-best four assists. First-round draft choice (No. 7, Louisville) Nick De Leon has been a revelation in midfield with three goals and three assists. Joe Willis has been D.C. United’s first-choice goalkeeper of late, over 2011 starter Bill Hamid.

Of Note

-San Jose (6-1-1) and Real Salt Lake (6-3-1) share the top spot in the MLS Western Conference standings, equal on 19 points, with the Earthquakes having two games in hand. Real Salt Lake next hosts the New England Revolution on Saturday (6 p.m. PT).

-The Earthquakes and D.C. United (4-2-3, 15 pts.) enter their one and only match-up of the 2012 season on the two longest unbeaten streaks currently in MLS. D.C. United is undefeated in its last seven since two straight losses to begin the new campaign, going 4-0-3. San Jose has not lost in its last six since its only defeat of the year, 1-0 to Houston. The Quakes are 5-0-1 since that result at AT&T Park on March 17.

-At 6-1-1 and 19 points, this is the best eight-game start to a year in the San Jose Earthquakes’ 15-season club history. In 2001, 2002 and 2010, the Quakes trotted out to a 5-2-1 start for 16 points. They were 4-2-2 (14 pts.) in 2003 before going on to lift the franchise’s second MLS Cup. With just six goals conceded thus far, this is the franchise’s best eight-game defensive start. San Jose allowed seven goals over its first eight matches in 2010 and eight in 2002. The Quakes’ 15 goals fall one short of their best eight-game output of 16 from 2004. They also tallied 15 goals through eight games in 1998.

-Quakes star Chris Wondolowski is currently second in the Budweiser Golden Boot race with eight goals, behind Thierry Henry of the New York Red Bulls at nine. Wondo is one goal shy of No. 50 for his MLS career. He and Henry share the longest active streak in MLS of games with either a goal or an assist at six each.

-Quakes head coach Frank Yallop is one win away from catching his former pupil, Houston Dynamo manager Dominic Kinnear, in the No. 5 position on the all-time MLS regular-season wins chart. Yallop is currently 101-96-70 (.509) as an MLS head coach in regular-season matches. Kinnear is at 102 victories, with his Dynamo idle this week.

Quakes-D.C. United Connections

-United midfielder Dwayne De Rosario competed for the San Jose Earthquakes from 2001-05, playing for current Quakes head coach Frank Yallop from 2001-03. De Rosario also played with Chris Wondolowski in San Jose in 2005 and for the Houston Dynamo from 2006-08, and with Quakes midfielder Sam Cronin at Toronto FC in 2009-10. Yallop coached De Rosario with the Canadian national team from 2004-06.

-D.C. United assistant coach Pat Onstad played in San Jose for three years from 2003-05, for Yallop in 2003 as the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year and an MLS Best XI selection for the MLS Cup champions, with current Quakes captain Ramiro Corrales in 2003-04, and with Wondolowski in 2005. Onstad also played with Wondolowski from 2006-09 in Houston.

-D.C. United defender Brandon McDonald made 58 appearances for San Jose from 2009-11, prior to being traded to United on June 27, 2011. McDonald played college soccer at the University of San Francisco (2004-07).

-Quakes midfielder Sam Garza and D.C. United goalkeeper Joe Willis were members of the University of Denver men’s soccer team in 2008-09, with both earning all-conference distinction together in 2008. Garza (2010-11) and D.C. United forward Chris Pontius (2005-08) each played at UC Santa Barbara. Pontius and Quakes forward Steven Lenhart are both natives of Yorba Linda, Calif. Garza and rookie D.C. United midfielder Nick DeLeon were teammates on the adiPure side at the 2012 MLS Player Combine in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Garza (No. 6) and DeLeon (No. 7) were selected one pick apart in the first round of the MLS SuperDraft.

-Wondolowski and D.C. United midfielder Danny Cruz were teammates with Houston during the early part of the 2009 season. Garza (Denver) and Cruz (UNLV) played against each other in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation in 2008. Opara and Cruz were teammates for the U.S. at the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt.

-Quakes goalkeeper Jon Busch and D.C. United midfielder Stephen King were teammates for the Chicago Fire in 2008.

-Yallop (52), assistant coach Mark Watson (78), De Rosario (66) and D.C. United defender Dejan Jakovic (11) have all earned caps for the Canadian men’s national team, with Jakovic having played under Watson at the U-23 level during 2008 CONCACAF Olympic qualifying.

Mobile Apps

MLS MatchDay 2012 – The official Major League Soccer app, providing up-to-the-minute score updates, in-game highlights, news and more.Yorder – A free app that allows fans to order food and beverages, Q the mascot and souvenirs from their seat at Buck Shaw Stadium.

Twitter

@SJEarthquakes – Official account of the San Jose Earthquakes (#SJEarthquakes)
@QuakesMatchday – NEW! this season, follow for live updates on game days
@DCUnited – Official account of D.C. United (#DCU)